Weed-cutter.



B. F. LOWE.

WEED CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYB, 1910. RENEWED MAY 10, 1911 y fig COLUMBIA PLANOGIZAPH 0).. WASHINGTON. n. c.

BENJAMIN F. LOWE, 0F GRANGEVILLE, IDAHO.

WEED-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911'.

Application filed July 6, 1910, Serial No. 570,627. Renewed May 10, 1911. Serial No. 626,346.'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LOWE, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Grangeville, in the county of Idaho and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Weed-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weed cutting implements, and it has for its object to produce an implement of simple and improved construction and of light draft which will operate to cut the stalks of weeds very close to the ground with a view to exterminating the same.

A further object of the invention is to produce an implement of this class which will possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability and general efliciency.

With these and other ends in View which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing,Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View, showing one of the Weed cutting units detached from the frame. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the standard detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of referonce.

The frame of the machine which is rectangular in shape is preferably of angle iron or steel, and it comprises the front and rear bars 1, 2 and the end bars3, 3 which are suitably connected with the front and rear bars. Said front and rear bars are also connected by longitudinal spacing bars 4, 4, a number of which are disposed equidistantly apart and from the end bars 3. A tongue 5 having a draft evener 6 and supporting a seat 7 is suitably connected with the frame intermediate the ends thereof.

The end bars 3 and spacing bars 4: are provided with bearings for the axle members 8, 8, each of which is provided at its outer end with a crank 9 carrying'a supporting wheel 10. The axle members are provided adjacent to their inner ends with hand levers 11 having stop members 12 adapted for engagement with segment racks 13 supported upon the frame of the machine.

- The weed cutting units are preferably arranged in the spaces intermediate the spacing bars 4 of the frame and in the spaces intermediate the spacing bars and the end bars 3. Each unit comprises a blade or runner 141 having at its front end an upwardly extending shank 15. Secured upon each runner 14 adjacent to'the rear end thereof is an upwardly extending standard 16 which may be conveniently formed of a plate of sheet metal bent or doubled upon itself so as to present a member of U-shaped cross section,

said member being provided adjacent to its lower end with a notch 17 for the admission of the rear end of the blade or runner which is secured in position by fastening means such as belts or rivets 18. At its upper end the standard 16 is provided with outturned I lugs or flanges 19 for the passage of fastening members, whereby they may be secured upon the underside of the rear frame bar 2. The shank 15 is provided with L-shaped bracket members 19which are suitably connected with such shank and with the underside of the front frame bar 1.

Securely connected with each of the blades or runners 1a are rearwardly divergent knives or cutting blades 20, said blades be-- ing horizontally disposed adjacent to the lower edge of the runner blade so as to lie flat upon or adjacent to the ground when the machine is in operation. These blades are provided adjacent to their front ends with upturned lugs 21 which are apertured for the passage of fastening means such as rivets 22 which extend through the runner blades and through the upturned lugs of the cutting blades at each side which will thus be firmly secured in position for operation. The cutting blades connected with the several runners are so disposed as to overlap at their rear ends 'as indicated at 23; that is to say, the cutting blades connected with one runner will be overlapped by the cutting blades connected with the proximate runners, thus insuring the effective operation of the device.

In the operation of the machine, the frame is lowered by adjusting the wheel carrying axles until the cutting blades or knives lie flat upon the ground, when, by propelling the machine, the stalks of weeds and the like will be cut or severed close to the ground, as will be readily understood. For tl'illlSPOIt-EllOIl, the frame is raised by proper adjustment of the wheel carrying axles until the blades or cutters are sufiiciently clear of the ground. The runner blades, being very narrow, will not obstruct the progress of the machine which may be propelled easily and with advantageous results.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A weed cutting implement comprising a wheel supported frame, runner blades connected with the front bar of the frame, standards connected with the rear bar of the frame and with the heel ends of the run ners, and cutting blades secured upon the sides of the runner blades.

2. A weed cutting implement comprising a frame having wheel carrying crank axles and adjusting means for the same, in combination with runner blades having upturned shanks connected with the front bar of the frame, standards connecting the heel ends of the runner blades with the rear bar of the frame, and cutting blades secured upon the sides of the runner blades adjacent to the lower edges of the latter.

3. A weed cutting implement comprising a frame, carrying wheels for the same, runner blades having upturned shanks connected with the front bar of the frame, standards of U-shape cross section provided adj acent to their upper ends with outturned flanges secured to the rear bar of the frame and at their lower ends with notches to engage the heel ends of the runner blades, means connecting the runners with the standards, and rearwardly divergent cutting blades having upturned flanges engaging and secured upon opposite sides of the runner blades.

4. In a weed cutting implement, a wheel supported carrying frame, weed cutting units secured upon said frame, each unit comprising a runner blade having an upturned shank at its front end, L-shaped brackets secured upon said shank, a standard of U- sbaped cross section having a notch engaging the heel end of the runner blade and provided at its upper end with outturned flanges, means for connecting the standard with the runner blade, and means for securing the unit upon the carrying frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. LOWE.

Witnesses:

V. H. CAsADY, E. M. GRIFFITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

